Profile: Seattle’s Belltown

Like many Seattle neighborhoods, Belltown has undergone tremendous change through the years.

The area was named by William Nathaniel Bell, an Illinois native and member of the first group of white settlers in Seattle. Bell lived in Seattle on and off until his death in 1887, and he left his mark on the city in other ways too — main thoroughfares in downtown, including Bell Street, Virginia and Olive Streets and Olive Way, were all named after his daughters.

Belltown was once known for its low-income housing, but it now boasts some of the most expensive rental prices in the city. Belltown is often thought of as the hip, swanky part of downtown because of its bustling nightlife scene; it has no shortage of cocktail bars and restaurants.

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